The biggest disruption to Coast's booming resort industry

Having worked for most of my career on the Sunshine Coast, I couldn’t think of a better place to live.
Like so many others I first came to Noosa on a surfing holiday and knew I would be back.
The natural environment, the comfortable climate, great beaches, good education facilities are some of the benefits of living and working here - and all within easy reach of Brisbane.
I still pinch myself at having the privilege of working in such a vibrant region.
As well as being responsible for six...

IT'S been one of the biggest disruptors and also one of the biggest assistants to the thriving Sunshine Coast tourism market.

The rise of share accommodation and short-stay apps like Airbnb and Stayz has helped open up the region to people who otherwise mightn't visit.

Noosa real estate agent Tom Offermann has spoken previously of the impact it has had on the northern tourism market, saying nearly all of the sector's growth in the past two years had been accounted for by Airbnb and Stayz.

With limited numbers in traditional accommodation houses, Mr Offermann said the opening up of the region via more efficient use of private properties had been positive for both home owners and visitors.

A screen shot of a number of Tweed properties listed on Airbnb.Contributed

A Deloitte Access Economics report assessing the impact on Airbnb in Australia showed how effective the market disruptor had been.

The report found Airbnb guests contributed $1.6 billion to Australia's gross domestic product in 2015-16, through more than 800,000 stays booked nationally.

Three-quarters of Airbnb properties in major markets were located outside of traditional tourist areas while in Queensland, the report found Airbnb tourism expenditure contributed $160.5 million directly to the state's economy, sustaining more than 2100 full-time equivalent jobs.

That's not to say accommodation houses aren't doing their jobs either, with massive visitation numbers being recorded in the region testament to the work being done.

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford said our figures were at the top of the tree.